Guard for paint applicator

ABSTRACT

A quickly-detachable and rod-like guard is provided which simulates in size and shape the rod-like portions of the conventional paint-applying roller and is adapted to fully overlie the smae in spaced parallelism when in operative position and provide an elongated substantially straight guard member which extends in spaced parallelism with said roller; a hinged joint being provided whereby the aforementioned substantially straight and elongated guard member may be elevated into and out of operative position; the entire rod-like guard being supported in said overlying position by the use of a plurality of rodembracing clips.

States atent [1 1 Spransy et al.

[45] Feb. 12, 1974 GUARD FOR PAINT APPLICATOR Inventors: Brower C.Spransy, 4516 Rynex Dr., Alexandria, Va. 22312; Norman G. Harper, 2100Shad Ct., Naples, Fla. 33940; Joseph Clayton Steele, 3817 Bightview St.,Silver Spring, Md. 20802 Filed: Sept. 22, 1972 Appl. No.: 291,240

US. Cl. 15/248 A, 29/1 10.5 Int. Cl A46b 17/00 Field of Search 15/248 A,230.11, 246, 24,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1963 Lucas 15/248 A 2,871,5002/1959 Hunn et al. 15/246 Primary ExaminerLeon G. Machlin [57] ABSTRACTA quickly-detachable and rod-like guard is provided which simulates insize and shape the rod-like portions of the conventional paint-applyingroller and is adapted to fully overlie the smae in spaced parallelismwhen in operative position and provide an elongated substantiallystraight guard member which extends in spaced parallelism with saidroller; a hinged joint being provided whereby the aforementionedsubstantially straight and elongated guard member may be elevated intoand out of operative position; the entire rod-like guard being supportedin said overlying position by the use of a plurality of rodembracingclips.

1 Claim, 2 Drawingl igures Patented Feb. 12, 1974 Fig.2

GUARD FOR PAINT APPLICATOR This invention relates to paint applicatorsof the socalled roller type, and particularly to a guard or feeler whichprevents the over-travel of the paint-applying roller, as it moves alongthe surface being painted, into such position that it contacts anadjacent surface and undesirably applies paint thereto.

In the past there have been numerous proposals for guards or feelers ofthe type referred to hereinbefore, one such device being disclosed andclaimed in US. Pat. No. 3,175,241 to Singleton, Harper and Spransy,dated Mar. 30, 1965.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a device ofthe class described which embodies certain advantages over the devicesof the known prior art, including the aforementioned Spransy et al. US.Pat. No. 3,175,241.

Among these advantages is the provision of a device which besides beingefficient in operation and durable in service, is very simple, easy andinexpensive to manufacture, being made practicallyentirely of wire orrod.

Other advantages include hinged means for quickly and easily moving theguard member into and out of the operative position, as well as clipmembers for completely attaching and detaching the entire guard devicefrom the paint-roller device.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will become more readilyapparent after referring to the following description and annexeddrawing wherein like reference numerals designate like parts andwherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective of the device of the invention in operativeposition; and

FIG. 2 is a view which is similar to that of FIG. 1 but wherein theguard device is shown as removably attached to the paint-roller devicebut with the guard member in elevated and inoperative position.

Referring-more particularly to the drawing, the letter A generallydesignates a roller-type paint applicator of conventional design, whilethe letter B generally designates the guard of the present inventionwhich is easily and quickly removable in its entirety from the paintapplicator; or, while still mounted thereon is so adjustable as toremove the guard element per se from operative position; as will be morefully explained hereinafter.

The roller-type paint applicator as shown at A is entirely conventionaland comprises an elongated handle 1 having a rod-like member 2 extendingaxially therefrom; said rod-like member having a right-angular extension3 (shown in the drawing as extending to the left) which terminates in ashort portion 4 which is parallel with the rod-like member 2. This shortportion 4 extends forwardly of the handle 1 and terminates in anelongated rod-like member 5 which extends at rightangles to the handle 1and constitutes the spindle upon which the paint-applying rollerrotates.

The guard device of the invention comprises two sections 12A and 128,each of which is of one piece and are made up of rod-like members. Therearward section 12A has a short rear-most rod-like portion which isattached to the handle of the roller-type paint applicator, while theremainder therefore extends forwardly in parallelism with the rod-likeportion 2 of the latter. The forward section 128 has a rearward straightportion which aligns with the last-mentioned portion of the rearwardsection 112A, as will be described more fully hereinafter. The forwardend of the rearward portion of the forward section 12B has aright-angularly extending portion 13 which is in parallelism with, andoverlies, the right-angular extension 3 of the roller-type paintapplicator A; and the outer end of this rightangular extension 13 of theforward section 128 has a right-angularly disposed and forwardlyextending portion 14 which overlies the portion 4 of the roller-typepaint applicator A. The forward end of the forwardly extending portion14 (of forward section 12B) is provided with a right-angularly disposedand inwardly extending elongate guard member 15 which when in operativeposition overlies and is in coextensive parallelism with the roller orcylinder of the paint applicator.

Small clamping plates 20 are secured, as by welding, to the adjoiningends of the sections 12A and 128; said clamping plates having centralapertures therein which align and receive a stud which extendstherethrough, the latter being screw-threaded and provided with awing-nut 23.

According to the foregoing construction and arrangement, the rod-likeportion 15 of the section 12B of the guard device may be made to assumeany one of a number of angular relationships with respect to the rollerof the paint applicator.

The rod-like portions l3, l4 and 15 of the section 12B and the rearwardsection 12A of the guard device are supported immediaely above, and inrelative parallelism with, the rod-like elements 2, 3, and of the paintapplying roller which are carried by the elongated handle 1. This may besuitably accomplished by means of a series of inverted U-shaped clampingelements 25 formed of spring-wire or relatively narrow spring-strip; andplaced to embrace the upper rod-like portions of the sections 12A 12B,and snap over the rod-like portions 3, 4 and 5 respectively of theconventional rollertype paint applicator.

' From the foregoing it will be seen that the guard device of theinvention may be easily and quickly installed or removed, and that whenapplied to the paint roller applicator, the clamping plates with studand wing-nut 22 and 23 respectively, will permit the guard element to beeither adjusted with respect to the paint applying roller 6 or entirelywithdrawn, folded backward, and permitted to occupy a position which isshortly forward 'of the elongated handle being formed practicallyentirely of wire or rod. The guard device of the invention is not onlysturdy for its intended purpose, but may be easily and inexpensivelymanufactured.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A guard device for a paint applicator the type which consistsessentially of an elongated handle, a unitary rod-like structure havinga first portion which projects in an axial direction from one end ofsaid elongated handle, a second portion which extends substantiallyright-angularly with respect to said first portion, a third andforeshortened portion which extends with respect to said handle and inparallelism therewith, a fourth and elongated portion which is carriedby and extends rightangularly of said third portion and which intersectsthe longitudinal axis of said handle, and a cylindrical paint-applyingroller rotatably mounted on said fourth portion, said guard devicecomprising rod-embracing clips carried by and depending from certain ofthe aforementioned portions of said guard device for detachably securingthe same in spaced relationship above the corresponding rodlike portionsof said paint applicator.

1. A guard device for a paint applicator the type which consistsessentially of an elongated handle, a unitary rod-like structure havinga first portion which projects in an axial direction from one end ofsaid elongated handle, a second portion which extends substantiallyrightangularly with respect to said first portion, a third andforeshortened portion which extends with respect to said handle and inparallelism therewith, a fourth and elongated portion which is carriedby and extends right-angularly of said third portion and whichintersects the longitudinal axis of said handle, and a cylindricalpaint-applying roller rotatably mounted on said fourth portion, saidguard device comprising a similarly unitary rod-like structure generallyoverlying the aforementioned portions of said paint appLicator the firstportion of the rod-like structure of said guard device having anintermediately disposed hinged joint and rod-embracing clips carried byand depending from certain of the aforementioned portions of said guarddevice for detachably securing the same in spaced relationship above thecorresponding rod-like portions of said paint applicator.